Review of 2014: October to December

The developers of Magna Park in the Harborough district announced in October plans for a huge expansion of the logistics and distribution park.

The 200-hectare expansion, the equivalent to an area measuring a mile by three-quarters-of -a-mile – could create up to 6,000 new jobs for the area.

Meanwhile, the covers came off one of Harborough’s most iconic buildings following a comprehensive ten-month refurbishment of the Old Grammar School in town.

November

One of the highlights of 2014 for many was the hugely popular Mo’Ket Harborough campaign.

For a bit of fun, the town was re-named Mo’Ket Harborough for the moustache-growing month of November, meaning Harborough became the first town in the UK and just the second in the world to team up as an entire town to raise money and awareness for the cause – and the ‘tache tastic efforts tallied an astonishing £16,500 for the charity.

In the background, you can see some of the refurbishment work on the Old Grammar School.

Job done: Renovations for the Old Grammar School were officially completed this month after building contractors handed over the building to its owners – the Market Harborough and the Bowdens charity – on November 8.

People were generally enthusiastic about the new colours and wood but some residents raised concerns that it looked “too new”.

In crime news, a man appeared in court and admitted his part in a jewel heist at Steffans jewellers in Harborough.

December

A total of 9,500 new homes are needed in the district over the next 20 years, Harborough Council confirmed this month. It followed several months of confusion over housing figures but the council finally admitted that it set the targets but claimed the Government was applying pressure.

Finally, Harborough was turned into a winter wonderland on Friday, December 5, for the first ever Market Harborough Christmas Fayre, which replaced Late Night Shopping. It was a big success and 5,000 people attended.